Spider Mites
 |
| At only 1/64", spider mites are hard to see. It's almost easier to feel them. Spider mites feel slightly gritty on the leaf. |
There are many different kinds of mites, also known as spider mites, several of which parasitize plants. They feed in dense colonies, in webs on the undersides of leaves. Their feeding causes a silvering or stippling effect on the leaf top, but the precise symptom varies with the plant. In addition to their webbing, on the leaf undersides you'll also feel a gritiness. They feed on many kinds of plants, edible and ornamental. Houseplants are a favorite target.
Hot, dry, and dusty conditions encourage mites. Keep plants well watered and wash them off frequently.
Controls
- Spray plants with a forceful spray of water to knock mites from leaves.
- Wash plants thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil (Botani-Wipes are especially handy for indoor plants), covering leaf undersides especially well.
- Buy and release beneficial insects.
Still have questions?: Ask our in-house gardening experts.
|
